Road spanning South America to open after delays

PUERTO MALDONADO, Peru - The long-awaited Inter-Oceanic Highway spanning South America is due to be completed next month, after several fitful years of construction and despite early opposition from environmental groups.

The controversial thoroughfare, linking up road networks from the continent's Atlantic and Pacific Ocean coasts, will cross through the Peruvian town of Puerto Maldonado, deep in the Peruvian Amazon.

The $900-million highway, which involves renovating some 2,600 kilometers of road from Peru's southwest coast to its border with the Brazilian state of Acre, was conceived decades ago.